Grow Hydroponic Strawberries
If you’re looking for a simple, efficient way to grow strawberries, you may want to try the Kratky method of hydroponics. When I first started growing using the Kratky method, I read that “flowering” plants were not good for Kratky, as each stage requires different nutrients.
Honestly, I still love this method and you can get great results with minimal setup and maintenance. It’s a great way to grow strawberries if you don’t have a lot of space. In this article, we’ll show you how to set up a Kratky strawberry system and give you some tips for success.
I find growing strawberries outside in 5-gallon buckets works best but I have also grown them in my indoor garden as well. The indoor plants did not produce the huge berries like the outdoor, but they tasted just as good.
Fresh picked strawberries are delicious and so nutritious. We picked these for our breakfast and splurged all in one sitting. They were so natural tasting, unlike the grocery store. Hrad to describe but more like strawberries.
Kratky Hydroponic Strawberries – Our Favorites for Growing Strawberries with the Kratky Method
Advertisement
While I don’t grow a ton of strawberries due to space limitations, they are fun to grow in the Kratky method garden. These are a few items I picked up along the way.
This is on my wish list, so I can grow strawberries more often. My shelfs are out of space, so this is a nice add-on.
These supports work great to hold the plants up and out as they get a little bigger. They fit into mason jars too.
Strawberries come from flower blooms, so you will need a different nutrient solution. I use MaxiBloom.
This is only wishlist. I currently use tin foil to cover my jars. I plan on trying these in the the fall.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Using the right nutrients is important if you want big, luscious strawberries in your Kratky garden. We use MaxiBloom.
What are Kratky Strawberries?
Pretty simple. We grow the strawberries using the Kratky method of hydoponics. They are planted in a kratky hydroponic system, which is an easy and efficient method for growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs. I use mason jars or somewhat larger plastic containers I save from food-grade products. You can also use 2, 3 or 5-gallon buckets. The idea is simple. We add water and the proper nutrients for each stage to the container and that is it. We let our plants grow.
With strawberries and other flowering plants, you get better results if you give the plants the proper nutrition at the right stages. The Kratky method makes this simple in my opinion. I can change the water out or move my plants from staged water containers. It is easier for smaller plants and micro varieties (especially tomatoes).
The kratky strawberrries are able to be grown indoors with proper grow lights, or outdoors with adequate sunlight. What I love about this method – we are simply suspending the plants in mineral-rich nutrient solutions while removing the need for plumbing and systems with pumps. The solution circulates on its own without requiring any electricity or filters. Not only does this method save energy and water, but it also leads to higher yields of Kratky strawberries due to their low maintenance requirements and self-regulating needs.
In a nutshell, this is the simplest way to gardening that I have found.
Net Cups
My absolute favorite 2-inch Net Cups by CZ.
Mason Jar Covers
Quickly and easily block out the to minimize algae.
Rock Wool Cubes
The best grow blocks we have used in our growing.
Kratky Lids
Lids will block light to keep algae from growing.
How to Grow Kratky Strawberries
Kratky strawberries are a unique and easy-to-grow version of the popular fruit. Kratky strawberries boast a high return on investment by allowing gardeners to control their space and make the most of small spaces while creating an abundant harvest. Kratky hydroponic strawberry plants can be grown in 2-liter soda bottles or in containers within water sources such as gutters, buckets or waterways.
After the Kratky strawberry seedlings are planted and allowed to take hold, nutrition is delivered via an aqueous solution that is altered as needed to ensure healthy growth. You do need to alter the solution when the plants get mature to get the maximum blooms from your plant (see the pic to the right).
The best way I have found to grow Kratky berries is outside in 5-gallon buckets, which allow a much better growing environment. While I have grown them in my indoor garden, I get less fruit and the strawberries are smaller.
With careful watering and pruning Kratky strawberries will provide luscious fruit for months!
Grow your strawberries without soil outside in hanging baskets. You’ll still need to be mindful of the roots and you may attract pests, such as mosquitos if you do not cover the top. I use hydroton clay pebbles to do this.
The benefits of growing Kratky Strawberries
Kratky strawberries are an easy and efficient way to grow your own delicious fruit at home! Kratky strawberries require very little effort, as the plants will only require watering once a week (when they get bigger). I grow my Kratky strawberries in a container with rock wool cubes and clay pebbles to allow oxygen to pass through the bottom. That helps promote healthy root growth, while retaining moisture simultaneously.
Additionally, Kratky strawberry plants won’t take up too much space due to their optimized design; perfect for those who have limited gardening space. Kratky strawberries are also disease resistant and don’t require selecting virus-free runners, making it easier than ever for novice gardeners to grow some strawberries at home. I do enjoy growing strawberries in my hydroponic indoor garden.
Tips for growing Kratky Strawberries
Kratky strawberries are not always recommended, but don’t let that stop you from giving it a try. While Kratky strawberries require some maintenance, with a few basic tips you can give your Kratky strawberry plants the best chance at success.
Kratky Strawberries Need Adequate Air Around their Roots
Once your seedling gets going, ensure it is has proper air around the roots is one of the keys to success. I use rock wool and clay pebbles in my net pots to ensure I get maximum air around my roots (I do this generally for all of my plants). I also like to use supports (see the ones I buy above). The reason I use these, they allow air to flow all around the plant, even from the bottom and I find my strawberry plants grow better this way.
In the gray box below, you can find some otehr products I prefer for all of my Kratky gardening. The CZ net cups are simply the best. Very thick plastic. They are the best quality over any otehrs. Ihave tried and simply last and last. The Gro-block rock wool cubes with the wrappers are also my favorite. While you can use other rockwool cubes, I don’t like to handle the rockwool without gloves and these negate me using gloves when handling the rockwool cubes.
Below is my favorite grow light – I have purchased 3 of these and they are excellent. I have owned them since 2019 and they are still going strong. I like to put mine on a timer, so they go on and off when I want them. They also take up very little energy. This allows me to grow all year long on my shelving units in my office.
Kratky Strawberries (well any strawberries) Love Light
Kratky strawberries love regular sunshine, so be sure to select an area that gets plenty of it if you are growing outside. If your hydroppnic strawberries are inside, then you’ll want to select a good grow light. I have adjustable height grow lights that I can raise or lower depending on the stage of the plants.
Nutrients for Your Kratky Strawberry Plants
During the seedling phase, you won’t need any nutrients. This is true for almost every hydroponic plant you will grow. In fact, you can actually hurt your tender seedlings with fertilizer. Sprouting little seeds requires only a light bit of moisture.
While the plant is growing, you’ll want to add some nutrients. I like the MaxiGro 10-5-14 personally, and use it for almost every crop I grow.
Once my plants are mature and at the stage where I want blooms, I switch to the MaxiBloom 5-15-14. This also works for your other flowering plants as well (see box below – I buy them both at the same time to save a few bucks).
True Kratky some say is adding water once and setting and forgetting it. You can do that for your flowering plants, but your yields will be much less. That is why. Iwill change my nutrients when my flowering varieties are ready.
Water & Pollination for Your Strawberry Plants
Providing enough water and monitoring the level of water in your containers is essential. Kratky strawberries need consistent hydration. Your roots are a great sign to the health of your plants. inspect yoru roots if you can. You’ll want bright white roots. Brown are a sign that the plants are not at their healthiest.
In the wild, strawberry plants need insects, like honeybees to pollinate the plants. So giving them a little shake during from time to time will help keep the strawberries pollinated. I will just give them a light tap on their stems to get them to shake the pollon from the flowers.
